Rotor



C. E. TACK July `26, 1949.

ROTOR Filed NOV. 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

C. E. TACK July 26, 1949.

ROTOR Filed Nov. 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 26, `1949 ROTOR l Carl E. Tack, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 5, 1943, Serial No. 509,031

14 claims. (o1. 18s- 218) My invention relates to brake equipment and more particularly to a brake disc or rotor which may be attached to an associated rotating element for cooperation with brake means for deoelerating said element. Y.

An object of my invention is to design a brake disc comprising asupport structure formed partially of aluminum or other metal having the characteristic of relatively great heat conductiv ity. Friction members of liron or steel are bonded to the support structure to afford suitable friction surfaces for engagement with associated riction means such as, for example, brake shoes.

Another object of my invention is to design a brake disc in which thefriction surfaces thereof are formed partially of material having relatively great heat conductivityand partially of material `more suitable fora braking surface but having relatively low heat conductivity.

A specific object of my invention is to design a fabricated brake rotor of the centrifugal or peripheral type adapted to circulate a cooling medium such as air during rotation of the disc. The novel rotor disclosed herein is of the generic type illustrated and described in my co-pending appli*` cation, Serial No. 409,999, filed September 8, 1941, now United States Patent Number 2,350,970.

My novel rotor is especially designed for circulating air. However, it will be understood that it may be utilized in any suitable medium such as, for example, oil. .The rotor comprises a support structure including a hub mem-ber formed of iron or steel and spaced rings at opposite sides of said hub member and connected thereto by means of blower blades bonded to said hub member. The blades and the ringsareformed of aluminum or some similar metal having the characteristic of high heat conductivity and bondedto said rings are a pair of annular friction plates composed of iron or steel and presenting friction surfaces for engagement with as` sociated friction meanssuch as brake shoes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of my novel rotor, only one half 3f the rotor being illustrated, inasmuch as it is a symmetrical annular member.

Figure 2 is a composite View taken from the ight as seen in Figure 1, the upper half of Fig- 1re 2 being an edge elevation and the lower half `hereof being a sectional View taken in the radial )lane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in the radial lane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a modification of my nvention, Figure 4 being a parable to Figure 3, and Figure 5 being a frag "mentary side elevation comparable to Figure 1.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate another modication of my invention, Figure 6 being a sectional View comparable to Figure 3, and Figure 7 being a fragmentary side elevation comparable to Figu ure 1. 1

Describing my invention in detail and referring first to the embodiment thereof illustrated in Figures 1-3 inclusive, my novel brake disc or roh tor comprises a somewhat bell-shaped support or hub member 2 formed at its outer perimeter with a plate portion 4, and at its inner perimeter with an inturned flange 6 having the spaced openings 3, 8 therethrough for the reception of means af-` fording securement for the rotor to an associated rotating element such as,` for example, a Wheel of a railway car truck. The support member 2 is formed of iron or steel or some similar material of considerable strength.

At opposite sides of the plate portion d of the support member `2 are heat-radiating fins or blower blades I0, I 0, the blades at each side of the portion 4 merging with spaced rings I 2 and Ill.

The rings I2, I2 are bonded to the plate portion 4 and the rings I 4, I4 are bonded to the annular friction plates I6, I 6 formed of iron or steel or similar material affording a suitable friction I surface for engagement with associated brake sectional View comshoes. The rings I2, I2 and I4, i4, as well as the blades I0, I0, areformed of aluminum or similar material having the characteristics of high heat conductivity. Thus it will be understood that heat generated in the plates I6, I6, during a braking application, ducted away from these plates to the support member 2 and thence to the rotating element to which the rotor is attached.

It may be noted that the blades I 0, I0 function as columns to resist braking pressure applied vto the friction plates I6, IE and, likewise, the blades l0, I0 function as blower elements to impel air or other fluid radially outwardly from the outer periphery of the rotor during actuation thereof. The rotor illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive is fabricated by placing the support member 2 and the friction plates I6, I6 in a mold, and cast ing thealuminum blades I0, I0 land the associated rings I2 and I4 against the plate portion Il and the plates I 6, I 6, which 'are coated with a suitable flux affording a bond between the iron and aluminum.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 which illustrate a modification of my novel rotor, the sup-` port member 52 isv substantially identical with will be rapidly conthat described for the previous embodiment and comprises at its outer perimeter the plate portion 54 and at its inner perimeter the inturned flange 56 reinforced by the annular plate 53, said flange and said plate being provided with aligned open ings 5B, 6) for the reception of means securing the rotor to an associated rotating element.

At opposite sides of the plate portionj of the support member' 5,21are the annularfrictiri plates 51, 51 formed with annular concentric slots 59, 5S. As in the previous embodiment of my invention, blades 6I, 6I are secured to the plate portion 5d and the respective friction plates 51, 51` by means of the rings 62 and 64 said rings and the blades 6I, 6| being compo" of in which is cast onto the plate"v pfortioii 54 and the friction plates 51, 51 as in the'previously described embodiment, the ringsjf beingprovided annular friction members of ferrous metal bonded with annular projections 66, 5B received within the slots 59, 59 and affording frictionv surfaces substantially co-planar with the friction surfaces of the plates 51, 51.

It will be understood that by means of the par# rangement illustrated in' Figures 4 s''n'd` 5' the aluminum projectionsy 66, 66 directly engage' the brake shoes and transmit heat tl'ieiefrom'l tothe plate portion 5'4 of the support member 52;

Still another modification of my invention is il"- 1ustrated in Figures 6 and. '1 wherein tno sup-port member H12'V is substantially identical with' that described for th piviois rnb dim'eits of my invention aocoompnsos the' plate porto-n1 'les bonded at each side' thereof tfc' a ring lift, said ring being integ l'l'ii'th the blades it; ft' which merge with thring Il0",-l ing imbddedtlierein -a plural-ity' of friction rings lf2, lf2.; Eacnof the rings l l2, H2 is if yaridi-ptedby a yslot LI'I'll` for the purpose of facilitating-teipansiri and contractionof rings |12, ll I2 as the rotor is alternate- 1y heated and cooled ude'nseviee lconditions. As will be noted fm Figure '1,-'tne slots H4, ,H4 in the` ,respeotiye' rings i lz, A| Ali are stag'gered` or in radial misaligriment to prevent concentrat of stresses, as will be understood by those ski e the art. Eachslot I Mis spaced apfroiimately SOVdegrees from the adjacent slot. i

1t will be andere a that the rings Hz, H2 and thel supportimeiper' luz` are' of iifori or steel and the' blades |08, |08 and the rings |05 and! lll are f, aluminum, the rings llt, (it and the feige H2, H2 at each side of the platepxition m4 presenting substantially 3o-planar braking surfaces for engagement associated brake shoes.

It is to be understood that do not wish vto be limited by they `enact embodiments V of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to lthoseslicilled in the art without 4 departing rfrom the spirit f the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a braliemotorra support member comprising means aifording securement to an associated rotating element; Aspaced rings at opposite sides of said suppijtfI mein-ber, and blades between each ringV and said supporthniember,andhconnected to the Iattfen-acltblad havingmspaced portions projecting through complementary openings in the adjacent r'iiigrforv vinterlocking' eng'a'gi'ifie'ntV therewith, each Aring and 'the portions o'n' the associated blades presenting Acoplanarfriction surfaces adapted for engagement with an associated braise membensaid blades Yloeing composed of matial hating"4 greater heat conductivity than sid'rmgs and said rings being to said spaced ring, and presenting friction surfaces co-planar with friction means thereon, each of said friction members being interrupted by a slot, the slots in respective friction members being in radial misalig'nment.

3. In a brake rotor, spaced rings, a support member therebetween, blades connecting said (l. In abrake'rotor, a support membercomprising means affording securement to anY associated rotating'member, spaced rings at opposite sides of said support member, integral blades joining said rings and b'nd'd to saidfsupport mem-ben',V

and a plurality of annular friction elementsA imbedded iri each ring and presenting co-planar fric-v tion surfaces therewith, and slots through said elements interrupting the same, the slotsY in respective elements associated with each ring Vbeingv in radial misalig-nment.

5. In a fabricated braker rotor, a b'elleshape'd support member of ferrous metal having at its y outer perimeter a plate portion and at its-inner perimeter a flange for securement to'an associated rotating memben'an aluminum structure at each side of said p'ortiof-i and comprising'a ring bonded thereto, a spaced ring, andintegral blades `extending between said ringsgand a plurality of annular friction members f ferrous metal bonded to said spaced ring, and presenting friction' sui'- faces co-planar with friction-meansthereon, each of said friction members being interrupted by aV slot.

6. In a brake rotor, a siilpitr membenspaced annular friction plates at opldsite sides thereof, v

and a structure connctigsaid plates with said meinbensaidstructure comprising columnsv extending between and bonded to said plates and said member, and said structure being formed of materialhaving greater'heat conductivity than said plates and said member, portions of said structure presenting co-planarr friction surfaces with friction surfaces on the remote surfaces of said plates. Y

7. In a brake rotor, a support member, spaced rings at opposite sides thereof, blades integral with said rings and bonded to said member, said blades and rings being composed of material having the characteristic. of relatively high conductivity of heat, and a plurality offriction elements imbedded in each ring and presenting co-planar friction surfaces therewith,v said 'friction ele-,- ments and said support member being formed of material having relatively gr'eat strength and relatively low conductivity of heat in comparison to the material composing said rings and blades.

8. In a fabricated brake rotor, a bell-shaped support member of ferrous metal having at its outer perimeter a plate portion and at its inner perimeter a iiange for securement to an assou ciated rotating member, an aluminum structure at each side of said portion and comprising a ring bonded thereto, a spaced ring and integral blades extending between said rings, and an annular friction plate of ferrous metal bonded to said spaced ring, and presenting a friction surface co-planar with a friction surface thereon.

9. In a fabricated brake rotor, a bell-shaped support member of ferrous metal having at its outer perimeter a plate portion and at its inner perimeter a flange for securement to an associated rotating member', an aluminum structure at each side of said portion and comprising a ring bonded thereto, a spaced ring, and integral blades extending between said rings, and a plurality of annular friction members of ferrous metal bonded to said spaced ring, and presenting friction surfaces coplanar with friction means thereon.

10. In a brake rotor, a support member cornprising means affording securement to an assom oiated rotating member, spaced rings at opposite sides of said support member, integral blades joining said rings and bonded to said support member, and a plurality of annular friction elements imbedded in each ring and presenting coplanar friction surfaces therewith, and slots through said elements interrupting the same.

11. In a fabricated brake rotor, a bell-shaped support member of ferrous metal having at its outer perimeter a plate portion and at its inner perimeter a flange for securement to an associated rotating member, an aluminum structure at each side of said portion and comprising a ring bonded thereto, a spaced ring, and integral blades extending between said rings, and an annular friction plate of ferrous metal bonded spaced ring.

12. In a fabricated brake rotor, a bell-shaped support member of ferrous metal having at its outer perimeter a plate portion and at its inner perimeter a Iiange for securement to an asso*- ciated rotating member, an aluminum structure at each side of said portion and comprising a ring bonded thereto, a spaced ring, and integral blades extending between said rings, and a plu rality of annular friction mem-bers of ferrous metal bonded to said spaced ring.

13. In a brake rotor, a support member comprising means affording securement to an asso oiated rotating member, spaced rings at opposite sides of said support member, integral blades joining said rings and bonded to said support member, and a plurality of friction elements imbedded in each ring and presenting co-planar friction surfaces therewith.

14. In a brake rotor, a support member corn prising means affording secure-ment to an ass0- ciated rotating member, spaced rings at opposite sides of said support member, integral blades joinu to said ing said rings and bonded to said support mernn ber, and a plurality of annular friction elements imbedded in each ring and presenting co-planar friction surfaces therewith.

CARL E. TACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 490,702 Whitcomb Jan. 31, 1893 953,308 Waite Mar. 29, 1910 1,168,810 Jones Jan. 18, 1916 2,255,024 Eksergian Sept. 2, 1941 2,288,438 Dach Jung 30. 1942 

